No.2 of the Academy

The match had ended, and Ash once again claimed victory, retaining his position as the no.1 student of the academy. The crowd's roaring cheers echoed throughout the arena, celebrating Ash's dominance. Yet amidst the celebration, one name lingered on everyone's lips—Avasyu.

He was the first person to ever take a round from Ash. That single win against the academy's top student didn't go unnoticed.

After officially declaring Ash the winner, the referee raised a hand to quiet the crowd. "I have a special announcement," he called out, drawing everyone's attention.

"As you all know, during the final round, we initiated a vote among the audience regarding Avasyu's ranking within the academy." Murmurs spread across the arena as anticipation built.

The referee continued, "The results are in. By popular vote, Avasyu is now... the no.2 student of the academy!"

Gasps and applause filled the air. Some students clapped in support, while a few exchanged looks of surprise or disapproval. The referee added, "If anyone wishes to challenge Avasyu for this rank, they may do so—but only with approval from the no.1 or an academy instructor."

While the announcement echoed in the arena, Avasyu lay unconscious in the medical bay. Two healers—one from Class S and another from Class A—worked diligently to treat his injuries.

The Class S healer was a girl with green hair, transparent glasses resting on her nose, dressed in a white apron over black leggings. Her hands glowed softly as she focused healing magic over Avasyu's abdomen. Beside her sat another girl, this one with striking red hair. Her familiar face was lined with concern.

An hour passed as the healers continued their work, slowly coaxing Avasyu back to consciousness. His eyelids fluttered open, vision blurred at first, before clarity returned. His gaze shifted between the healers and the room around him. The warm glow of healing magic slowly faded as the procedure concluded.

Seated across from the bed, Ash watched the entire process unfold. He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, smirk still present but tempered by guilt. Quietly, he muttered to himself, "I shouldn't have gone that hard on him… He's my only best friend."

The tension between pride and regret weighed on Ash's shoulders as Avasyu's breathing steadied. The room fell into a peaceful silence, the aftermath of the duel lingering in the air, a prelude to the changes yet to come.

When Avasyu woke up, both girls sighed in relief. Seeing him healthy again eased everyone's tension.

As he stirred awake, Ash stood up from his chair and approached the bed. The two girls quietly got up and stepped out of the room, leaving the two alone.

Ash asked, "Are you okay?"

Avasyu nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay."

Glancing at Ash, he added with a teasing smile, "Were you worried? About me?"

Ash scoffed, "What? No... I just thought you were dead, that's all."

Avasyu smirked. "I can't die... not until you tell me how you did that."

"Huh? Did what?" Ash asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Your hands," Avasyu said. "I saw your veins glowing—like fire was running through them. What was that?"

Ash chuckled. "Wow, Avasyu! I'm impressed. Didn't think you'd notice. When exactly did you see that?"

"During the last punch... and the one before it too," Avasyu replied. "Your speed suddenly spiked—I couldn't keep up. But when you punched me in the stomach, I saw it. Your hands were glowing, just for a split second. It felt hot... like fire was flowing through your veins. I want to learn that."

Ash gave him a thoughtful look. "Hmm... those grey eyes of yours really are something," he murmured. "But first, you need to recover."

With that, Ash gently pushed Avasyu back onto the bed. As he left the room, he flicked off the light. Standing in the doorway, he glanced back with a smirk. "I'll tell you another secret tomorrow," he said before closing the door behind him.

Avasyu lay on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling as his thoughts swirled. "What kind of secret is Ash going to tell me?" he murmured before finally drifting off to sleep.

The next day dawned with a beautiful morning. Golden rays streamed through the window, gently waking Avasyu. Excitement buzzed in his chest. Today was the day he would learn Ash's secret—a truth he felt would change everything.

After getting ready, he left his dorm and made his way to the classroom where Ash usually spent his mornings dozing. However, something was different. As Avasyu walked through the academy corridors, he noticed the stares. Students paused mid-conversation, eyes tracking his every move. Whispers followed him like a shadow.

Why is everyone looking at me like that? he wondered, discomfort creeping in. Yet, the gazes weren't hostile. There was no hatred or disdain—only surprise, awe, and curiosity.

It clicked. Of course. News of the recent matches had spread like wildfire. In just a few days, Avasyu had gone from an unknown newcomer to the academy's No. 2. Even more attention stemmed from his eyes—the rare grey hue that many whispered about, claiming it concealed extraordinary power.

Despite the attention, Avasyu kept his pace steady, determined to focus on his purpose: meeting Ash. Whatever the secret was, it would undoubtedly tie into the mysteries surrounding the academy—and perhaps, himself.

When Avasyu arrived at the classroom, Ash was nowhere to be seen. He sat at his usual bench, waiting, but the seat beside him remained empty. Hours passed, classes dragged on, and yet Ash didn't show up.

After the final bell echoed through the academy halls, Avasyu gathered his belongings and exited the classroom. Concern crept into his thoughts as he asked his classmates, "Has anyone seen Ash today?"

One by one, they shook their heads. "Nope, not today."

"He didn't show up in the morning either."

"Maybe he's skipping?"

Disheartened, Avasyu wandered through the corridors, questioning other students along the way. Their answers mirrored his classmates—no one had seen him. Just as frustration began to settle in, a student passing by said, "Hey, I think I saw him in the library... probably sleeping on a book like always."

Relieved to have a lead, Avasyu hurried to the library. The vast room was filled with towering shelves, scattered students, and an unmistakable atmosphere of quiet. He navigated the maze of bookshelves, eyes scanning every corner.

And then he found him.

Ash was nestled in the farthest corner of the library, head resting on an open book, snoring softly. His nose had a dangling snot bubble that inflated and deflated with each breath. The scene was so absurd that Avasyu couldn't help but sigh.

Reaching for a thick book, Avasyu rolled it up, aiming to give Ash a playful whack on the head.

Just before impact—

"Huh! Time... rewind again!!" Ash jolted awake, startling both of them.

They stared at each other for a moment, blinking in confusion.

"Huh?!" they both exclaimed in unison.